torkelson



(No Model.)

R. T. TORKELSON.

VBLOGIPBDB.

No. 891,210. Patented 0.61:. 16, 1888.

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INiTn STATES ATENT Prion.

REINHARD T. TORKELSON, OFVOROESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO IVER JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 391,210, dated October 16, 1888.

(No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REINHARD T. Tonirnrf soN, of Vorcester, in the county of `Worces ter and State of Massachusetts. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of ro this specification, and in which- Figure l represents a front view of the handlebar, its handles and bearings, and so much of the fork and head of a bicycle as is necessary to illustrate my improvements. Fig. 2

r 5 represents upon an enlarged scale a plan of the head,A the handle-bar bearings, and a part of the handlebar. All the following figures are also upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through zo the handle-bar bearing and part of the handlebar, looking toward the head. Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the center of thehead and handle-bar bearing. Fig. 5 is a plan of one of the handles partly in section,

showing my improved construction, whereby said handle may be adjusted and locked on the end of the handle-bar, as hereinafter more fully described; and Fig. 6 is a detached side View of the screw-bolt employed in the con- 3o struction last above referred to for locking the handle on the bar after adjustment.

My invention relates toiinprovenients in the handle-bar and handle-fastenings of velocipedes, and more particularly to bicycles having what are commonly known as spade7 handles; and it consists of the improved con struction hereinafter described, whereby said handle-bar and handle may be adjustably and securely fastened,while at the same time admitting of detachment in an easy and expeditious manner.

In order that others may better understand the nature and purpose of my said invention, I will now proceed to describe it more in detail.

In the drawings, A represents the head of a bicycle, having the bearing Al on the frontside thereof. B is the handle-bar, and C C the handles at the outer ends thereof.

The head, with the exception of its bearing A', is made substantially as in other bicycles,

and is provided with the usual center bolt, a, set-nut b, and washer c. The front of said bearing A is provided with a vertical transverse slot, d, preferably at its center and ex- 5 5 tending back nearly through to the center bolt,

a, as shown in Fig. 4. It is also provided with a longitudinal opening, e, inclined or flaring outward from said transverse slot in opposite directions, as is shown in Fig. 8. The 6o purpose of the slot d is to receive the central detachable operating-headfon bolt g, and of the inclined opening e to receive the inner ends of the handlebar, which are made bevcling or cone-shaped to tit the opening, said handle-bar being made in two parts, instead of extending through its bearing in one piece,

as ordinarily.

Then the several parts are fitted together for use, the head foccupies a position over 7o the center of the bolt g, as is shown in Fig. 8, and both are made so as to turn together when said head is turned, and also to admit of thc insertion ofthe bolt endwisel into said central opening in the head. In this instance the head is made with a square central opening, and the bolt correspondingly shapedat its center to it the same for said purpose; but I do not limit myself thereto, as many equivalent constructions maybe adopted to accomplish the same result.

At each side of the head the boltg is provided with threads, thc thread upon one end being right-handed, and left-handed upon the other end. Said threaded portions are fitted S5 to turn in correspondingly-threaded longitudinal openings in the inner ends of each pai-tof the handle-bar. Therefore when said ends of the handle-bai are inserted in the beveled openings in the bearing and turned up tight 9o over the bolt g it is obvious that the parts will be held in a very firm and rigid manner, and they are locked in said position by means of pins It h, projecting laterally from the handlebar,which tit in longitudinal slots hL, formed in the bearing A. In fastening the two parts of the handle-bar to said bearing A their inner ends are tirst turned up over the ends of the central bolt, g, as far as the pins It h will permit without striking the ends of the bear- Ico ing, said pins being in line with their respcctive slots, h h', and the two parts of the handlebar in their proper positions. By now turning the heady the bolt g is also turned, thus causing the two sections of the handle-bar to be drawn inward, so that their cone-shaped ends will bear against the flaring or inclined surfaces of opening e, the pins h h also being at the same time moved forward into their respective holding-slots, thereby fastening and locking the handle-bar in a very secure manner, as previously stated, while at the same time admitting of its being quickly and easily detached for any purpose.

I prefer in practice to make the head j' in circular form with a series of transverse slots, t', in its periphery, as shown in the drawings, whereby it may be conveniently turned; but, if desired, any other suitable shape may be adopted in lieu thereof; or the headV may be entirely dispensed with and. the boltg turned by fitting an ordinary wrench over the central part thereof.

It is also preferable to employ a separate re-enforcing or strengthening piece of tubing, j, or its equivalent at the inner ends of the two sections composing the handle-bar, provided with threaded openings to receive the bolt g and fastened tosaid sections by the pins h h and by brazing; but I do not limit myself thereto, as the same forms no essential part of my invention.

Prior to fastening" the ends of the handlebar to bearing A', as previously described, the nutf and bolt g are fitted in position in said bearing by first slipping the head into the transverse slot d, and then passing the bolt g endwise through the same up to the center thereof, as shown in Fig. 3.

In practice sufficient space is provided for between the inner ends of the handle-bar and head f,- also between the pins h hand the bottoms of their slots h h,to take up the wear incident to usage. Although it is preferable to employ the pins and slots hlt', they are not absolutely essential, and may be dispensed with, if desired.

My improvement upon the handle-fastening consists in fitting a short screwbolt, k, in the threaded longitudinal opening Z in the handleshank m, said screw-bolt being interposed-between the outer threaded end, n, of the handlebar and the bottom of saidopening. It is provided with a smooth longitudinal hub, o, projecting toward the handle, which in this instance fits in a smooth longitudinal opening in the base of the handle-frame, both the hub and,V said opening being of considerably less diameter than the diameter of the screw-bolt k. If preferred, however, the screw-bolt may be made Without the hub o, and the opening in the handle-shank may be extended through full size. Both ends of the screw-bolt are provided with transverse slotspp, or the equivalent thereof, whereby it may be turned.

The purpose of said screw-bolt is to lock the handle in any adjusted position onthe handie-bar.

In fitting the handle to the handle-bar said handle is first turned up over the threaded end of the handle-bar, and after having been turned up to the proper point and adjusted as desired the screw-bolt is turned up tight against the end of said handle-bar, thus securely locking it in its adjusted position. By said construction it is obvious that by loosening up the screw-bolt the handle may be turned into any desired position convenient to the rider in operating the machine, and then securely locked in said position, as aforesaid.

I am aware of the United States Patent, No. 286,131, to D. S. Hall, dated October 2, 1883, in which is shown an adjustable check or bearing, t," corresponding to the screw-bolt 7c,and therefore make no claim thereto, broadly, but limit my invention to the combination thereof with the velocipede-handle and its shank, as set forth in my third claim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a velocipede, the head thereof having a bearing provided with a central vertical transverse slot, and alongitudinal opening inclined or flaring outward in opposite directions from said transverse slot, in combination with a head fitted in the transverse slot, and a right and left hand screw-bolt fitted in said head, and also inthe inner ends of two sections composing the handle-bar, said two sections composing the handle bar having threaded openings at their inner ends to receive the screw-bolt aforesaid and beveled to lit thelongitudinal inclined opening in the bearing, also having laterally-projecting pins adapted to tit in longitudinal slots in said bearing when the parts are fitted together, substantial l y as shown and specified.

2. In a velocipede, the head thereof having a bearing provided with a central vertical transverse slot, and a longitudinal opening inclined or daring outward in opposite directions from said transverse slot, in combination with a head fitted in the transverse slot, and a right and left hand screw-bolt fitted in said head, and also in the inner ends of the two sections composing the handle-bar, said two sections of the handle-bar having threaded openings at their inner ends to receive the screw-bolt aforesaid and beveled to fit the 1ongitudinal, inclined, or beveled openingin the bearing when the parts are fitted together, substantially as shown and specified.

3. The combination, with the velocipede handleshank and frame, having a longitudinal threaded opening and a smooth longitudinal opening, respectively, of the outer threaded end of the handle-bar with a short screwbolt, having means whereby it may be turned up against the outer end of the handle-bar, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

REINHARD T. TORKELSON.

Witnesses:

A. A. BARKER, W. B. NoURsE.

IOC 

